USS Attu (CVE-102) Escort Aircraft Carrier (1944)

USS Attu (CVE-102) Escort Aircraft Carrier (1944)

USS Attu CVE-102 escort aircraft carrier saw service through the final years of World War 2, eventually being sold for scrapping in 1947.

Staff Writer (Updated: 9/11/2016):

The USS Attu was an escort aircraft carrier serving with the United States Navy in World War 2. She operated primarily in the Pacific Theater and served to resupply and replenish task force groups with fresh aircraft and pilots. She served from Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Espiritu Santo, New Guinea, Guam, and Ulithi. Upon the cessation of hostilities was announced with Japan, the USS Attu performed in Operation Magic Carpet, shuttling thousands of American soldiers back home for repatriation.

The Attu design was spawned from fifty unfinished cargo vessels under Kaiser Shipbuilding Company and was part of the large complement of Casablanca-class escort carriers to see operational service with the US Navy. She consisted of an unarmored flight deck that generally served naval bombers, torpedo bombers and fighters. Her superstructure was set back between amidships and the stern on the starboard side. The carrier was defended by 1 x 5" main gun, 16 x 40mm cannons and an additional 20 x 20mm cannons for anti-aircraft use.

The USS Attu was laid down (by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company), launched and officially commissioned in 1944. She was decommissioned in 1946 and had her name struck from the Naval Vessel Register that same year. In early 1947 and like many navy vessels seeing combat in the Second World War (which, incidentally, she earned 2 Battle Stars for her exploits), she was unceremoniously sold off for scrapping. The USS Attu was named after the Aleutian Island chain's westernmost and largest island "Attu" off the coast of Alaska. She was originally called "Elbour Bay" before being renamed on November 6th, 1943. In her post-war time, she served under the name of "Gay" as a merchant class vessel.